"Let the murderer be brought before me," he exclaimed, "and he shall be thrown into the darkest dungeon."
The unfortunate traveller, who was ignorant of the crime of which he was accused, was brought before the King with trouble and confusion imprinted on his features. He saw the perfidious Rustem in the crowd that surrounded him, and, remembering the wise counsels of the Monkey and the Serpent, suspected that he had been made the victim of this treacherous person.
"I deserve," he said, sadly, "the cruel lot that is in store for me."
The King, mistaking the true meaning of these words, thought that the prisoner had been frightened into making a confession. He was thereupon condemned to be burned in the public square.
Fortunately, as this punishment was to be witnessed by the whole populace, it was postponed until after the funeral of the young Prince. The poor traveller was cast into the dungeon set apart for the condemned. It was dark and clammy, and on entering it he bade farewell to life and happiness.
A friend, however, was watching over the poor traveller. It was the Serpent he had delivered from the pitfall. Cautiously he crawled along the damp walls and under the doors, and avoided the observation of the jailers. The traveller recognized him at once.
"Fear nothing," said the Serpent, "I come to deliver you."
"How can you do that, my friend?" asked the traveller.
"I have promised to redeem you from the results of your own generosity, and I am faithful to my promise. You refused to believe that man is the most ungrateful of the animals, and that he returns evil for good. You have forgotten the good advice given you by the Lion and the Monkey. However, let us forget that. I will be more cunning than the vile wretch who is seeking your ruin."
"What must be done?" the traveller asked.
"Take this herb. It alone has virtue to cure the poison with which I have inoculated the King's favorite wife. The monarch has now become a victim of the keenest grief, and you alone can appease it. He will soon forget the crime of which you are accused. He who can make himself useful is always innocent. Advertise your talents; that is the way to success. Apply the herb I have given you, and you will perform miracles. Farewell! time presses. Here comes the King to visit you."